Mesmerising the audience with traditional and authentic tunes, Dhwani 2013, the 10th BKF Mallikarjun Mansur Music Festival, was held at the JSS Auditorium recently.
The vocal performance by Arati Ankalikar Tikekar, which went on for three hours, left the audience surprised with the artiste’s ability to transport the listener to a different place.
The melodious renditions included different compositions in high and low tempos.
The evening’s show started with compositions Preetam Sayian Daras Dikha Ja and Mora Mann Har Lino in raga lalita gauri and progressed to Sakhi Mori Rumjhum and Chatara Sughara. Compositions in raga hemant like Aao Re Sakhiyan and a jhula Jhulan Bandao, a tappa in a raga bhairavi, followed by a tarana in teen taal were performed. The musical show, which saw the artiste’s voice reverberating between different ragas, was a treat for the audience.
One could easily see how the artiste impressed the crowd; they sat silently during the compositions, breaking into a thundering applause after each piece ended.
Arati performs almost once or twice every year in the City. She said, “The audience has changed tremendously over the years. More people listen to concerts and the crowd is more knowledgeable about music from all across the country, especially the North. For me, Bangalore definitely comes in the top five audiences, as the City has a lot of music connoisseurs.” She further added that a lot of youngsters are learning classical music now...
Hemanth Kumar, a music lover, said that Arati’s performances have changed
over the years and become more emotional and soul-searching.
“I’ve been there for almost all of her performances and I am thankful that I could come for this one too. The musical notes that she plays and the cheerful face that she sports during a performance add to the total experience of the show,” he shared.
When rare ragas are sung at a performance, they always leave a bigger impact on the audience.
“The lalita gauri was a refreshing experience, especially since she was so well-composed while singing such a different piece. I feel it’s the audience’s friendly attitude and Arati’s smile that has taken her to such heights,” said Ayushman, a college student. He added, “The way she sings and presents her music showcases her talent at its best.”